Colin Croft: West Indies' Most Hostile Fast Bowler of the Late 1970s
Colin Croft was the most genuinely intimidating of the West Indies pace quartet, bowling from a wide angle at extreme pace to generate steep, awkward bounce that troubled the world's best batters.
Colin Croft was one of the most fearsome fast bowlers in cricket history — genuinely hostile in a way that few pace bowlers before or since have matched. Born in Demerara, Guyana in 1951, Croft made his Test debut in 1977 and quickly established himself as the most physically intimidating member of the West Indies pace attack. He bowled from wide of the crease — often from the return crease — and at extreme pace (145-150+ km/h), generating a steeply-rearing delivery that climbed at the batter from a wide angle. His first Test series against Pakistan in 1977 yielded 33 wickets at 20.48 — an extraordinary debut series — and immediately placed him among the world's top fast bowlers. Croft took 125 Test wickets at an average of 23.30 in 27 Tests. His career ended controversially after he joined the rebel 'South African Breweries XI' tour of apartheid South Africa in 1982-83, which resulted in a ban from international cricket.
Bowling Style and Intimidation
Croft's wide-crease angle — he often bowled from outside the return crease, approaching the angle from a wide position — meant his deliveries came in toward right-handed batters from an unusual position. This made it difficult to judge line and pick up the ball early. Combined with his extreme pace, steeply-climbing bouncers and an aggressive approach to batters, he was a genuinely unpleasant opponent to face in a way that differed even from Holding or Marshall.
Rebel Tour and Career End
Croft's decision to join the rebel tour of South Africa in 1982-83 effectively ended his Test career at 27. The West Indies Cricket Board banned the rebel players, and Croft never played international cricket again. His career statistics — 125 wickets at 23.30 in just 27 Tests — suggest that had he continued, he would have been among the all-time greats of West Indian pace bowling.
Frequently asked questions
How many Test wickets did Colin Croft take?
Colin Croft took 125 Test wickets at an average of 23.30 in 27 Tests. His career was cut short by his decision to join the rebel South Africa tour in 1982-83, which led to a West Indies Cricket Board ban from international cricket.
Why was Colin Croft banned from cricket?
Croft was banned by the West Indies Cricket Board after participating in a rebel cricket tour of apartheid South Africa in 1982-83. The tour was organised by South African Breweries and involved West Indian players who played matches in South Africa despite the country being under international sporting sanctions. All rebel players received lengthy bans.
What made Colin Croft's bowling difficult to play?
Croft bowled from wide of the crease — often near the return crease — at extreme pace. This angle made his deliveries come in toward right-handed batters from an unusual position, compressing the angle and making it difficult to judge the line of the delivery. His bouncers climbed steeply from this angle, generating awkward short-pitched deliveries that were harder to judge than those from a more conventional approach.